Jeanne Patricia Rynhart (17 March 1946 – 9 June 2020)[1][2] was an Irish sculptor and creator of the Molly Malone statue.[3][4][5][6]
Jeanne Rynhart | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 March 1946[1] Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 9 June 2020 (aged 74) Schull, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | National College of Art and Design |
| Known for | Sculpture |
Background
editRynhart was born Jeanne Scuffil in Dublin on 17 March 1946.[1] Her parents were Kathleen Connolly and Frederick Scuffil, the latter a sign writer for Guinness.[citation needed] She was an apprentice to George Collie RHA for 2 years, and then attended the National College of Art and Design.[citation needed] After graduating in 1969, she moved to England where she continued her studies in fine art and shared a studio with sculptor John Letts.[1] She returned to Ireland in 1981, moving to Ballylickey, near Bantry in County Cork, where she established the Rynhart Fine Art gallery and workshop. Rynhart and her husband, Derek Rynhart, had 2 children.[2]
Career
editRynhart created the Molly Malone statue for the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations. The statue was controversial at the time of its unveiling due to the revealing dress the statue wore. Registrar of Aosdána, Adrian Munnelly wrote to the An Bord Fáilte criticising it. The statue was defended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Ben Briscoe. Rynhart herself wrote in The Irish Times that the clothing and appearance were accurate for women of that era. The statue has since become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dublin and is fondly regarded by locals.[2][7][5]
Rynhart also sculpted a statue commemorating the original Rose of Tralee, Mary O'Connor, which stands in Tralee Town Park. In 1993, she produced 2 statues in honour of Annie Moore at Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork and Ellis Island in New York City. The Ellis Island statue was dedicated by the then-President of Ireland, Mary Robinson.[8][7]
In 1994, Rynhart's daughter Audrey joined the business. Audrey and her husband, Les Elliott, continue to operate from their studio in Glengarriff, County Cork.[7]
Death
editRynhart died on 9 June 2020, aged 74, in Schull Community Hospital, Cork. She was buried in the Abbey Cemetery, Bantry, and is survived by her husband Derek and their children.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Jeanne Rynhart obituary: Gifted sculptor who created the Molly Malone statue". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Hunt, Conor (9 June 2020). "Molly Malone statue sculptor dies aged 74". rte.ie. RTÉ News.
- ^ a b "Death Notice of JEANNE PATRICIA RYNHART (née Scuffil)". rip.ie. 9 June 2020.
- ^ O'Brien, Shane (11 June 2020). "Irish sculptor who created Dublin's famous Molly Malone statue dies". IrishCentral.com.
- ^ a b Harrison, Bernice (26 September 2019). "Shining example – An Irishwoman's Diary on the Molly Malone statue and inventing a tradition". The Irish Times.
- ^ Crean, Dermot (10 June 2020). "Death Of Creator Of Town Park's Rose Of Tralee Statue". traleetoday.ie.
- ^ a b c O'Brien, Tim (9 June 2020). "Irish sculptor Jeanne Rynhart dies aged 74". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Unveiling of statue at Town Park". The Kerryman. Independent News & Media. 19 August 2009.
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